Bits & Bytes: Butterfly Leadership Program; chair yoga class; Great Barrington Republican meeting; Riotous Youth enrollment

At Riotous Youth sessions, students explore one of Shakespeare’s plays through games, activities, and rehearsal.

BFWW to present leadership program for teens

Great Barrington — The Berkshire Festival of Women Writers (BFWW) invites teen girls ages 13 – 18 to join its director Jennifer Browdy and spoken word poet Grace Rossman in its Butterfly Leadership Program aimed at developing young women’s potential as writers, public speakers, and creative leaders.

The next session will take place on Sunday, February 7, from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. at the South Berkshire Friends Meeting House. The topic “Healthy Relationships With Oneself and With Others” will be explored through writing, discussion, and exercises designed to build confidence, clarity and community.

Future sessions will take place Sunday, March 6, in Pittsfield (topic: Coping with Distraction and Stress); Sunday, April 10, in Great Barrington (topic: Taking Action on Social Issues); and Sunday, May 15, in Lenox (topic: Qualities of Women’s Leadership).

Girls can sign up for just one session, or more. Participants who attend and participate productively in at least three sessions will be awarded a Certificate of Completion. Meetings are limited to a maximum of 20 participants. The cost of each three-hour session is $60. Some partial scholarships are available.

–E.E.

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Chair yoga with Kripalu-certified instructor Robin Seeley

Robin Seeley and daughter
Robin Seeley and her daughter, Samantha.

Pittsfield — On Monday, February 1, at 10:45 a.m., the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires will present a chair yoga class let by Kripalu-certified instructor Robin Seeley. The free program will take place at Congregation Knesset Israel.

Chair yoga is a gentle and unique practice performed while sitting on a chair. Students are able to warm up the body safely and perform yoga poses while seated, allowing for more support and stability. Chair yoga is suitable for all ages, fitness levels, and physical conditions.

Robin Seeley has studied and practiced yoga for the last 12 years. She says: “I believe in a compassionate approach to yoga and I guide my students in creating a connection between the mind and body while offering a safe and supported space to gain confidence from the inside out.”

For more information call the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires at (413) 442-4360 x10.

–E.E.

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Great Barrington Republican Town Committee meeting

Great Barrington — On Tuesday, February 2, at 5:30 p.m. the Great Barrington Republican Town Committee will meet in the Selectman’s Room at the Town Hall, 334 Main St. The agenda will include the town budget, the Searles hotel project, the Community Preservation Act, and upcoming elections. The meeting will include a chance for citizens to express themselves regarding important issues. Everyone is welcome.

For more information contact Andy Moro at amoro47@gmail.com or Patrick Fennell at (413) 528-9106.

–E.E.

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Open enrollment for Riotous Youth summer sessions

Lenox — Registration is now open for the 2016 summer sessions of Riotous Youth sessions at Shakespeare & Company. Riotous Youth is an imaginative and playful summer theatre program for students age 7-18 that introduces them to the language, story, characters, and ideas in Shakespeare’s plays.

During each two-week session, students explore one of Shakespeare’s plays through games, activities, and rehearsal. They create a performance piece based on their explorations, which they then share with family, friends, and Company members in an outdoor performance on the final day of the session. All Riotous Youth sessions incorporate voice, movement, acting, and theatre games.

For more information or to register, contact Jenna Ware, Associate Director of Education, at (413) 637-1199 x172. Registration for Riotous Youth is ongoing but subject to space availability.

–E.E.